MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS 2020

Last year, I posted my New Year's resolutions and it received over 1,300 views - my most successful blog post to date. Even though I changed my blog and said I wanted to talk about more serious matters, there’s no way I can pass up those views again.

We all have our sell-out moments, right?

In all seriousness, I truly believe that setting yourself goals, whatever they may be, is beneficial for your mental health. As long as they’re realistic and achievable, they can give you something to aim for and once you reach them, it makes you feel so good about yourself. And I think we all need a little pick-me-up during blue January.

So get ready people, here are my resolutions for 2020.

1. FOCUS ON RECOVERY

I was going to put (for like the 10th year running) that I wanted to get fit and healthy, but I'm so sick of saying it. Also, I don't want to make this my main goal in life. What's important is that I focus on my recovery. I'm still going to try to get fit and healthy, and I feel more determined than ever to do so. However, it's second to recovery in my list of priorities.

2. GRADUATE WITH A 2:1

2020 is supposed to be the year I graduate from university. Although I have doubts about my abilities, I would like to graduate with a 2:1.

No matter the outcome, I will be proud of myself for getting this far. Through various mental health difficulties which have constantly held me back, I moved away from home to a city by myself, made new friends, attended uni for almost four years and even finished second year with a 2:1. Despite everything I've been dealing with, I've done good.

3. SPEAK AT MORE RALLIES

Speaking in a rally for the first time in December was incredible. In 2020, I want to get more involved in activism and the Labour Party. As well as getting more involved with charities, speaking at rallies is a great way to get involved and meet new people in the community.

4. DONATE TO THE FOOD BANK EVERY TIME I'M IN THE SUPERMARKET

An important goal for me this year is to donate at least one thing to the food bank, even if it's just a tin of soup, whenever I go food shopping.

Although I'm not exactly in the most comfortable money situation right now, there are thousands who are in worse situations (which I was once in myself) and I want to do everything I can to help them. It's a shame we don't have a government who want to look after the poor and it's a shame that we even have a need for food banks in the fifth richest country in the world. However, the food bank is close to my heart and helps more than the majority of people even realise. This is just one small thing that I can do, and I invite people to do the same.

5. STICK TO A STRICT BUDGET

Continuing on from the money issues, I desperately need to stick to a strict budget this year.

I'll keep this one short and sweet as it's kind of a boring one, but I used to be great at sticking to a budget. But as bulimia symptoms worsen, so does the rational part of my brain that takes care of my funds. Maybe I'll explain it further in a future blog post, but for now I'll just say that my fifth resolution is to be more careful with money, so I have more to do fun things such as...

6. GO TO MORE GIGS

I haven't been to as many gigs lately, mostly due to anxiety. But I would love to start going to more gigs again and I don't just mean the big, famous bands. I want to see more cover bands and smaller bands as there's nothing better than discovering new music. It's also a great way to meet like-minded people.

7. GET A FULL-TIME JOB

As I will be graduating this year, I'll need to go into full-time work.

I have a few ideas about what I want to do, and I'll need to gather more experience to get where I want. However, I am excited for what the future holds and it will be nice to have a bit more money...

Hilarious, I know.

8. GET SINGING LESSONS

A random one, I know.

I want to start singing lessons literally for the fun of it. When I'm feeling low, belting out my favourite tune makes me feel so much better. It's the perfect distraction and it would be great to focus on something other than politics, even if it's just for an hour a week.

Well, I believe that's it for my resolutions this year. It's been quite the decade to say the least. I can't say it's been a good one, in fact it's been nothing short of traumatic... and unbelievably long. However, I've also made some great memories and proved to myself just how strong I really am. I've welcomed new people and animals into my life, including my beautiful dog, Ruby.

Things have been very up and down (understatement of the decade) but I would like to focus on the good times and share with you some memories from the last decade below.

Happy new year and thank you for reading this year,

The Mouthy Socialist.

2019